2011 International Women’s Day in Sweden. All photos by Lola A. Åkerström
If you happen to find yourself in Stockholm on March 8th, you’ll probably be sharing sidewalks with a sea of women (and some men) pushing baby strollers in a solidarity march.
In celebration of International Women’s Day which falls on March 8th, hundreds of women with babies, strollers, dogs, and a few men in tow gather in a famous square (for example, Norrmalmstorg), then head down key arteries (like Hamngatan, past Kungsträdgården towards Sergels torg – the center of Stockholm) in what is called Barnvagnsmarschen (Babystroller March) – organized by RFSU Unite For Women.
The march also takes place in other cities across the country.
This year, over 800 participants gathered in Mynttorget and marched through the streets of Stockholm in support of women worldwide and to raise awareness about violence against women and maternal mortality.
Since I was flying back from Berlin today and couldn’t participate in person, I’ve decided to share a few photos from a previous march I attended with captions to give you an idea of what probably went down today.
Scenes from Barnvagnsmarschen 2011
White picket boards with messages like “Aid helps” and “Childbirth – The most dangerous day in a woman’s life” were brought to the rally while some were also handed out.
Condoms as well as whitepapers on Global Sexual Politics were made available for free by RFSU Unite For Women.
Hundreds of women gathered in Norrmalmstorg to prep their strollers, bundle up their babies, and get ready for the march. Norrmalmstorg is well known for a 1973 hostage crisis which produced the term – Stockholm syndrome.
The march led the women from Norrmalmstorg down Hamngatan – a shopping street – in central Stockholm towards Sergels torg – the heart of the city.
Strollers lining Hamngatan and marching alongside traffic towards Sergels torg.
